http://www.marlenewinell.net/page/about-dr-winell I was born and raised overseas by missionary parents. As a child I believed in Jesus with all my heart and sought to meet my emotional needs in the "family of God." As a teenager, I became immersed in my faith. I especially appreciated the church home I found when we moved to unfamiliar California.
As I matured, however, I moved away from Christianity. I attribute this to a number of factors: exposure to other worldviews, my emerging feminism, non-Christian friends who were intelligent and happy, disappointment with church rigidity, discovery of dancing and other worldly activities that were actually life-giving, and new methods of emotional fulfillment. A big revelation in my professional training was that humans can learn skills for living and relating. We don't have to be desperate for a miracle of God to make us decent.
Letting go of my faith was a long, wrenching experience. I struggled to hang on but it became a matter of integrity. I couldn•t live with the logical inconsistencies and more importantly, I was tired of all the judgement and intolerance. When I left the church, I missed the security of having all the answers and the comfort of my cosmic companion, but the relief was also intense. I came to treasure my freedom to think and feel, to respect and love people, to care for this world, and to live now.
My education led to studies in psychology and human development. As I wrote in my journal about my own spiritual journey, I also listened to my therapy clients talk about their religious wounds. I began a book about recovery. In therapy, we used guided imagery and art therapy to tap deeper processes and find healing from within. I worked on my own art projects and invited others who have joined me in art exhibits. We have expressed angry and hurt feelings, but most of all, the shows have been about liberation--choosing life and love instead of righteousness and judgment.
I have been in private practice now for fifteen years, in Colorado, California, and Australia. One of my greatest joys has been to work with people from various religious backgrounds, all healing and moving toward a fuller engagement with life - here and now in this world instead of the hereafter. My own life has taken me around the world and through many experiences, some very challenging. My two children are blessings that I cherish. Learning to be a parent was a leap forward in my personal growth and my recovery from fundamentalism. I think the way we think about and treat children is a key to how we approach life. More about this in my next book.
I am enjoying the freedom and creativity that comes with experience. In recent years I have also enjoyed working as a filmmaker - writing and directing. A subject close to my heart is creation - giving birth, living fully, having the courage to push limits. The creator is us.´
SPECIAL THANKS TO CLARAP FOR THIS VERY RELEVANT LINK.
A pity people don't seek this lady's help before falling a prey to dawahgandists.
Topic: Therapy ideas needed (fear of hell)